Corks N Canvas™ was started in 2007 by Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney in Mandeville,
Louisiana. The concept pairs instructional art with friends, wine and a lively instructor
to produce individual works of art. With four locations in the Greater New Orleans
Area, the company began franchising the business as
Painting with a Twist™ in 2009. To date,
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franchise locations have been sold all over the country. Headquartered in Mandeville,
the company maintains the artwork copy rights and brand direction of the franchise
locations to insure that every location produces the same fun experience by which
the company was founded on.
Founders Renee Maloney and Cathy Deano
Corks N Canvas™ is one of the largest employers of aspiring artists. The company
recognized early on that the talents and enthusiasm of the staff were key elements
to the success of the product. In just three years, Corks N Canvas™, along
with the
62
franchise locations, has produced and owns the copyright to over 1500 pieces of
art. The collection of Corks N Canvas™ artwork was completed by approximately
50 instructors. Each artwork was conceptualized and executed by the instructors
with the idea of being an easy to follow piece of art for the inexperienced painter.
The artwork ranges from landscapes, abstracts and cityscapes, to creative renderings
of seafood, animals, iconic buildings and florals.
Because the company owners were both fundraisers in their previous positions, they
have maintained that a core value of the company is to be an active member of the
community and to focus on giving back. With this in mind,
Painting with a Purpose was created. Painting with a Purpose is a monthly
fundraising event held at all Corks N Canvas™ and Painting with a Twist™
locations as a centralized effort to raise funds that stay local in each market.
The partnering nonprofits have included St. Francis Animal Sanctuary, the Al Copeland
Foundation, Leaps & Bounds Sports Center and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.